Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a water system for moving the item to be cut along a tubular passageway and through a cutting mechanism. The system includes a water bypass arrangement which is controllable to provide a constant velocity so that the flow of product to the cutting knife is maintained at a desirable level. Alignment fingers may also be provided to prevent rotation of the uncut product and centering thereof as the cutting knife is approached. After the product is cut, the pieces pass into an outlet section where water from the bypass system may be injected to achieve, in the preferred embodiment, coil separation when the device is used for cutting helical strips of potatoes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a conveyor for transporting food product to the general vicinity of a rotating cutting blade. The conveyor generally aligns the food product and arranges it in a single row. The conveyor introduces the food product between a pair of endless belts which include contoured paddles on their mating surfaces to receive the food product and drive it toward the cutting knife. The endless belts are floating and coupled to pneumatic pistons to maintain contact between the paddles and the food product, even though the food product may vary in size. A double sided driving chain belt drives the endless belts to ensure positive, non-slipping feeding. The paddles prevent rotation of the food product while it is being cut. In the most preferred embodiment, the device is used for feeding potatoes into a rotating knife adapted to cut helical strips.

Abstract: A blade assembly for cutting vegetables, such as potatoes, preparatory to processing into a plurality of helical strips. The assembly includes a vertically disposed central cutting tube, a base plate and a plurality of tiers disposed therebetween. The tiers preferably are helically disposed with respect to the cutting tube and base plate. The blade assembly may be utilized in a cutting assembly for cutting articles into helical strips having a holder with at least one longitudinal passage therein, a plurality of inwardly biased members extendable in the passage to align and hold the article against rotation while being cut, and a rotary cutter which includes the blade assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cutting system for vegetables, including potatoes, which includes a water system for moving the item to be cut along a tubular passageway and through a cutting mechanism. The system includes a water bypass arrangement which is controllable to provide a constant velocity so that the flow of product to the cutting knife is maintained at a desirable level. Alignment fingers may also be provided to prevent rotation of the uncut product and centering thereof as the cutting knife is approached. After the product is cut, the pieces pass into an outlet section where water from the bypass system may be injected to achieve, in the preferred embodiment, coil separation when the device is used for cutting helical strips of potatoes.